Blackberry plant named &#39;HJ-6&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘HJ-6’. The new variety resulted from seed produced by a hand-pollinated cross of two non-patented varieties: “Obsidian” as the female, and “Eaton” as the male. The new, trailing cultivar can be distinguished by its consistent, large fruit size and appearance during the late spring and summer period for the fresh market. The fruit of this cultivar is produced on dark red, strong, thorny canes. When plants are grown and pruned correctly, yield in central California, USA can be up to 9,000 crates/acres, and the fruit ships well.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/311,466 filed Mar. 8, 2010, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Rubus ursinus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘HJ-6’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct trailing blackberry variety designated as ‘HJ-6’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors, Harold A. Johnson Jr. and Judith E. Johnson, in 2005 between the blackberry variety designated ‘Obsidian’ (female) and the blackberry variety designated ‘Eaton’ (male), both parental varieties unpatented. The variety ‘HJ-6’ is botanically known as Rubus ursinus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot near Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2007 by the inventors. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated beginning in October of 2007 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. by tissue culture. The new variety was then tested in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘HJ-6’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in California, and is being tested in Ventura County, California, and in Europe. ‘HJ-6’ has reacted favorably to the coastal climates of northern coastal California, but for maximum fruit production, ‘HJ-6’ requires consistent soil moisture and adequate nutrition. ‘HJ-6’ reacts favorably to an environment created by plastic tunnels.

The following traits have been observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘HJ-6’, which in combination distinguish this blackberry plant as a new and distinct variety.

1. consistent production of large in size and good quality fruit, regardless of the time of year and the age of the plant;

2. large fruit size responds favorably to careful packing when shipped in 6 oz. clamshell baskets;

3. thorny and trailing plant structure; and

4. late spring fruit production, starting in June, with peak production in late June, and continued, limited production through July and August, when grown in Santa Cruz County, California.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-6’ is compared to the female parental variety ‘Obsidian’, the following trait differences have been observed:

1. the peak fruit production of ‘HJ-6’ occurs later than ‘Obsidian’, but earlier than most erect types;

2. in holding testing after picking, the average flavor rating was the same, but HJ-6 rated higher in appearance than Obsidian after various days in cold storage;

3. HJ-6 has produced more commercial quality fruit in crates per acre than ‘Obsidian’, and a smaller percentage of non-commercial quality fruit per acre;

4. the average soluble solids concentration of Obsidian is 10.8, and HJ-6 is 9.3; and

5. the average seed size of HJ-6 is is 3.54 mm in length and 1.93 mm in width, and Obsidian is 3.52 mm in length and 1.93 mm in width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new blackberry variety, ‘HJ-6’ as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type.

FIG. 1, taken in October 2009, illustrates the typical large fruit produced by ‘HJ-6’ that is long-conical to oblong in shape, contains large druplets, and has thorns on the pedicel. FIG. 1 further illustrates the typical foliage produced by ‘HJ-6; that comprises mostly 5 leaflets, each leaflet being ovate to oblique in shape, with an acuminate to acute apex, bi-serrate serrations, and palmate venation. The leaf petiole, as well as, the fruit peduncle, as further illustrated in FIG. 1, has a red surface.

FIG. 2, taken in June 2010, illustrates the fruit size and short pedicels of a typical inflorescence that is held mainly near or on the exterior of a plant in early June. The fruit is presented mostly accessible to pickers. The drupelets are typical in size and appearance. The leaflets and their serrations are typical.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of ‘HJ-6’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons in Santa Cruz County, California. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions. ‘HJ-6’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.

Table 1 provides a botanical comparison of ‘HJ-6’ to the following two (2) unpatented, commercially grown varieties in Santa Cruz County, California: (1) ‘Obsidian’, a trailing, semi-erect, thorny and early ripening variety (female parental variety), and (2) ‘Chester Thornless’, an erect, thornless, and late ripening variety.

TABLE 1 Botanical Comparison with Comparison Varieties Comparison Variety 1 Comparison Variety 2 New Variety OBSIDIAN ‘CHESTER THORNLESS’ CHARACTERISTIC ‘HJ-6’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Plant Form Growth Habit Trailing, semi-upright Trailing, semi-upright Semi-erect Plant Height 4 to 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 5 to 6 feet Suckering Abundant Abundant Abundant Branching Indeterminate Indeterminate Indeterminate Cane Texture Thorny Thorny Smooth Hardiness Very Hardy Very Hardy Very Hardy Canes Diameter Large-1.8 cm Medium-1.2 cm Large-1.2-2.0 cm Floricane Same Diameter Same Diameter Same Diameter Immature Round to Angular Round to Angular Angular Primocane Color Prickles Red to Green Red to Green None Mature Canes All red 2.5 R 2/2 Upper side red 2.5 R 2/6 Upper side red 2.5 R 2/7 Foliage Robust, large leaves Robust, medium leaves Robust, late-emergence Predominate Number Mostly 5, some 3 Mostly 3, 4 and 5 Mostly 5, some 3 of Leaflets Leaf Type Mainly palmate Odd palmate to Mainly palmate intermediate Leaf Color Upper Surface   5 GY 3/4   5 GY 3/4  10 GY 2/4 Lower Surface 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 6/6 Ovate with acuminate Ovate with acute to Ovate with acuminate apex Central Leaflet Shape apex acuminate apex Leaflet Relief Between Veins Medium Strong Strong Spine Attitude Outward, some down Mainly outward No spine Serrations of Leaflets Shallow Shallow Shallow Leaf Incision of Margin Bi-serrate Bi-serrate Bi-serrate Pubescence Infrequent, no glandular Abundant, no glandular Infrequent, no glandular hairs. hairs hairs Petioles Color Top-2.5 R 2/2 Predom. 5 GY 2/2 Predom. 5 GY 2/2 Bottom-5 GY 2/2 Texture Smooth, small thorns Predom. smooth Smooth Length 4-6 cm 3-5 cm 2-3 cm Width 2-2.5 mm 1.5-2 mm 1.5-2 mm Flowers Blooming Period Mid-March to April Early March to April June Pedicels Short-3-6 cm Medium-3-6cm Short pedicels on raceme peduncle Petals Number 5 to 6 5 5 Shape Irregular elliptical Irregular elliptical Irregular elliptical Color White; N9 25/84 2% R White; N9 25/84 2% R Pink, 2.5 RP 5/10 Pollen Strong Strong Strong Sepals Number 5 5 5 Length 5-10 mm; some with leaf 4-8 mm; some with leaf 4-6 mm; no leaf extensions extensions extensions Fruit Productivity Medium-high; long High Medium picking season Time of Fruiting. Late spring to summer, Late May to July August to September June - July Size Very large; avg. 8 gm Medium-large; avg. 6 gm Medium-large; avg. 6-8 gm Shape Oblong to conic Elliptical, some circular Oblong to conic Color Immature Green to red Green to red Green to red Mature N 1.75/2.5% R N 1.75/2.5% R N 1.75/2.5% R Glossiness Medium to Full Medium to Full Very glossy Weight  6 to 12 gm   6 to 8 gm  6 to 10 gm Length 30 to 35 mm  25 to 30 mm 25 to 30 mm Diameter 20 to 25 mm  20 to 25 mm 20 to 30 mm Drupelets Size  3 to 4 mm 2.5 to 3 mm  3 to 4.5 mm Seed Length 3.54 mm 3.52 mm 3.35 mm Width 1.93 mm 1.92 mm 1.96 mm Soluble Solids 9.2% 10.8% pH Yield 9343 crates/acre avg. 6824 crates/acre avg. Disease/Pest Resistance Red mite susceptible Red mite susceptible Red mite susceptible Uses Fresh market Fresh market; processing Fresh market

When color is identified, the Munsell Book of Color (March 1976) is used.

Yield−crates/acre(crate=4.5 lb) 

1. A new and distinct variety of Rubus Ursinus, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 